SDLP social justice spokesperson Mark H Durkan has stated that a predicted underspend of £5.5 million within the Affordable Warmth Scheme must not be wasted.
In response to Mr Durkan’s Assembly Question, the Communities Minister confirmed that under current budgeting rules the Department does not have year-end flexibility and any funding not used before the end of March will be lost to the Department.
Said the Foyle MLA: “In recent years the Affordable Warmth Scheme was subject to a moratorium as a direct result of the Assembly’s collapse and subsequent budgetary constraints.
“Yet now despite the allocation of £12 million for the financial year 2020/2021 many households will find themselves missing out on this support due to difficulties posed by the pandemic.
“As a result of Covid-19 restrictions in relation to private dwellings, the Housing Executive who administer the Scheme along with local Councils on behalf of the Department, left unable to carry out home inspections have predicted an underspend of £5.5 million.
“This represents vital money which cannot be carried over after March 2021 and now runs the risk of being lost to the Department.
“The Affordable Warmth Scheme was designed to assist privately rented low income households in areas of highest fuel poverty to improve energy efficiency within their home.
“Following assessment, the scheme funds heating measures including insulation improvements, boiler replacement and window upgrades.
“Many of these households will be representative of those who fell through existing support packages i.e. the Covid Heat Payment, limited in its scope in that it was targeted solely toward those on higher disability benefits.
“While I acknowledge the unavoidable factors which have resulted in this underspend, the loss of one penny, never mind millions of pounds, is unforgivable at a time when so many individuals and their families are struggling to stay afloat.
“I would urge the Department to get their nose to the grindstone to develop an alternative home heating scheme to support low income households undoubtedly bearing the brunt of the financial consequences of Covid-19.”
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